Fans will be able to bid for their favourite Geordie footballers and raise money for a North East boys' club at the same time.

Stars, including Alan Shearer and Peter Beardsley, will be up for auction and winners will get the company of their heroes at a special dinner.

A string of top-flight players, who all got their grounding in football at the famous Wallsend Boys' Club, are taking part in the fundraising event.

The gala dinner is being held in honour of David Beardall, who has been club leader at the club for 38 years.

Many top footballers, who developed their skills at the club, including Shearer, Beardsley, Alan Thompson, Lee Clark, Steve Watson and Michael Carrick, are up for action and can be bid for at www.wallsendboysclub.co.uk.

Club Treasurer Steve Dale said: "Dave, who will be 65 in October, has been a permanent fixture at the club since 1965 and has overseen almost 50 players make it into the Premier League and Football League.

"He thoroughly deserves this tribute, which should be a very exciting evening."

Mr Beardall said: "My 38 years at the club have been very rewarding and I'm really looking forward to seeing so many of my `old boys' in October."

The club, which was founded in 1938 for the employees of Swan Hunters, relies on sponsorship for its existence and is currently looking for additional sponsors to help it go forward.

The dinner is taking place on Wednesday, October 8 at the Village Hotel, Silverlink, North Tyneside.